Jensen Ackles has confirmed Russell's Tracker season 3 fate in a new behind-the-scenes video. After shooting to worldwide fame as Dean Winchester in the hit dark-fantasy series Supernatural, and has recently appeared as Russell Shaw, the brother of Justin Hartley's Colter Shaw in Hartley's CBS procedural Tracker.
Russell and Colter share a complex and fractured relationship, and though Ackles has only appeared in two episodes of the show to date, the brothers clearly have a lot of backstory to work through. With Tracker season 3 set to premiere on October 19, 2025, Ackles has provided an update confirming Russell's fate.
In a video on his Instagram account, Ackles revealed he is on the set of Tracker. He didn't reveal the show by name, but panned the camera up to show his trailer door. He also revealed that, though his current show Countdown, is continuing to air, it won't be long before Russell and Colter are back on screens.
What This Means For Tracker Season 3
Ackles Could Have A More Prominent Role
A close up of Jensen Ackles as Russell Shaw looking confused in Tracker
Colter bandaging Russell's arm in Tracker
Jensen Ackles as Russell Shaw Driving Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw in Tracker Season 2
Jensen Ackles as Russell eating lunch in Tracker
Jensen Ackles and Justin Hartley as Russell and Colter in Tracker
Ackles' Russell has only been in Tracker season 1, episode 12, and Tracker season 2, episode 2. However, given the events of season 2 and the reveal that their mother was involved in the death of their father, it stands to reason that Russell will have a more prominent role in the new season.
The brothers will have a lot of questions and a lot of issues to work through, which should mean more screentime for Ackles. Russell is a big part of Colter's past, and he needs to make amends with his estranged brother if they are to help one another come to terms with their father's death and their family's secrets.
Our Take On Russell's Tracker Season 3 Return
Hopefully It Will Be A Meatier Role, But It Depends On Ackles' Schedule
A close up of Jensen Ackles as Russell Shaw in Tracker
Russell returning for season 3 is great news from a narrative standpoint, and will help flesh out the story, bringing Colter's personal life to the forefront, which is where Tracker shines. At this stage, it's unclear how much he will appear, but there's hope it will be more than one episode per season he's managed so far.
Originally, it was promised that Russell will appear in more than 1 episode of Tracker season 2, but that didn't come to fruition. It's curious of CBS will try to make up for that in season 3.
Of course, how much Ackles will appear is going to depend a lot on his schedule. He has had a busy year of projects, but with Countdown now out, and The Boys season 5 wrapped, Ackles could have a window in his schedule to dedicate to Tracker before The Boys spinoff Vought Rising enters production.
Source: Ackles/Instagram
